Great Expectations

April 6, 1986|By Joe Kilsheimer and Lynn Phillips

Real estate brokers across the country are optimistic about the future of real estate appreciation, according to a survey done for Electronic Realty Associates by an independent research firm. The selling price of an average existing house, according to the poll, was $98,600, up from $93,100 a year ago. By 1990, poll respondants believe, that house will be worth $118,800, which would be a 20 percent increase. The people surveyed were ''a core group'' of opinion leaders, including members of the Real Estate Leaders Association, an industry trade group and state presidents of the National Association of Realtors. Lower interest rates get the credit for pushing home values up, said Edward Gresham, ERA president. ''Values are up, sales are up and lower interest rates can only service to fuel the fire in what may be the hottest residential real estate market since the 1970s.''